1-821.] from the Antarctic Land. 149 



volcanic fire in contributing to the present arrangement of the 

 surface of our globe ; and a diligent observer must admit the 

 strong points of resemblance between the floetz trap formations, 

 and the undoubted products of volcanoes. 



I am, dear Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



Thomas Stewart Traill. 



Article VI. 

 On Carburet of Nickel. By Mr. Irving. 

 (To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.) . 



SIR, Birmingham, July 10, 1821. 



I read with some degree of interest the communication 

 respecting carburet of nickel, contained in the last number of 

 your AnnaJs. 



I have been in the possession of the article for several years, 

 and I have at different times made considerable quantities of it. 

 I find that it may be veiy readily formed by the agency of very 

 strong heat. I should long since have sent a statement of the 

 discovery to some of the periodical publications, and thus have 

 secured to myself the priority, in reference, at least, to your 

 correspondent Mr. Ross, had I not been restrained by the remark 

 in Dr. Thomson's System, that by forming nickel after the man- 

 ner he has described, " it always contains a portion of carbon." 

 I imagined that no one who had been apprized of this fact could 

 have had any doubt of the formation of the carburet, when 

 obvious means were had recourse to for the purpose. 



I write to you at present in haste, or I should have begged to 

 state more particulars ; and though I regard the subject as of 

 trifling importance, I think it due to myself to request that you 

 will allow me to state, in your publication, my claim to priority 

 of discovery. R.Irving. 



Article VII. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



royal society. 



The following papers have been read since our last report : 

 July 5. — On (he Magnetic Phenomena produced by Electri- 



